4 wheeler jumping into your "safe following distance

It can be frustrating, but there is nothing you can do about it. And it won't just be 4wheelers, either. Truckers are just as bad, especially the ones driving governed trucks. Putting up with jerks and idiots is a major part of the job. If you let it get to you, you won't last long out here. Learn to stay calm and de-stress. I find if I pretend they are all little children and just don't know any better, I am able to be more patient.

 

MNDriver has a good suggestion. Basically I do the same thing anytime, any vehicle when I am driving in a city. look far enough ahead, understand how what crazy thing the car driver will do next and the number of times you will need to panic stop or take evasive action are almost negligible. Since I also drive a motorcycle in the city anticipating what a four wheeler might do next is a very important skill. even though my bike is so quiet you prob won't hear me, I almost never have to avoid. BECAUSE I ANTICIPATE. my bike accidents( 3 in 25 years, only 1 needed hospital stay) have invariably happened not because of someone else but because I got ####y

 

Good idea.
They will try to get away with whatever they can. :smt064

 

That's the truth! And usually they do get away with it. But sooner or later there will be that one time they mis-judge the situation and end up dead or crippled.

 

I can only come at this from a 4 wheeler perspective,(start CDL school on Mon.). I see a truck driver trying to leave a safe following distance, only to constantly be filled by cars. Gotta be frustrating.

 

The only thing you can do is back off a bit. I do that whether it's a four-wheeler or an eighteen-wheeler, and I think of it as covering my butt as well as theirs. I don't even get mad. My driving policy is non-involvement; whatever it takes. That's how they drive and maybe it will bite them someday. Hopefully, I'll be far away.

 

It is a frustrating never ending issue. The best way to deal with it is to be safe and very patient. That's all you can do.

 

Run-ins with 4 wheelers are really nothing that will bother you after awhile. You know they're not professional drivers, so silliness from them is completely expected.

Other truck drivers will get under your skin more than cars will. The guys who cut you off because they can't bear to wait for a more appropriate opening in the hammer lane..the guys who speed up on purpose when you try to go by them...the guys who get on the cb and talk #### if they think you're in their way or if you have an accidentally awkward parking lot encounter with them. Basically the ego manics who think they're gods gift to 18 wheeling. That kind of stuff still gets me a little torqued off on occasion.

 

All the posts here have good points, all I can tell you what helps me. I make it game in my head. For them to win a point, I have to stop. For me to win a point, no stop.
I keep a large folling distance, a least a truck length. I always try to do my shifts ahead and always keep the same distance. You will have a hard time if you try to keep up with the rapid changes in speed. As traffic pulls away dont try to close that gap quick, just take your time and accerate slowly. And like someone said, watch the brake lights way ahead, If they are slowing the cars behind have to slow, and hence, so do you. As far as the cars cutting in to your following spac, thats why i leave so much distance, that gives them plenty room without having to cut directly in front of your bumper. And i let the distance widen to account for them taking some away. Look at it this way, you aint going ANYWHERE fast, so why try to hurry at this point.
Take your time, relax, but PAY ATTENTION!!!! This is not the time to find a radio station or change cd's, pour a cup of joe, ect. Nows the time to earn your pay.
There will be a lot of times when you have to stop and go, stop and go, stop and go, but every once in a while you will pull it off, just like catching all green stop lights, and it feels good.
hope this helps,
be safe.
b

 

Or you could mount paintball machine guns in the grill of the truck.... (just kidding!!!!)